Israeli soldiers invaded, on Friday evening, an area east of the Al-Boreij Refugee Camp, in central Gaza, firing dozens of rounds of live ammunition, while military choppers flew overhead firing flares.
The motives of the invasion remain unknown as the soldiers just searched the area and withdrew later on; no arrests or injuries were reported.
On Friday at dawn, two Palestinians were wounded after the Israeli Air Force fired missiles in the Car Market area in Gaza; one of them was treated by field medics while the other was moved to a local hospital.
Also on Friday, Israeli troops shot and killed one Palestinian near the central West Bank city of Ramallah during clashes that took place after the Palestinians held a protest against the ongoing settler attacks, and the Friday attack carried out by the soldiers against worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.
In its weekly reported for the week of 16 – 22 Feb. 2012, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights found that 25 civilians were wounded, and 21 were abducted in 74 invasions carried out by the Israeli military into the Palestinian territories.
Detained young woman Hana’a Shalabi has entered her tenth day of hunger strike protesting her administrative detention despite being released late last year in the prisoners’ exchange deal between Hamas and Israel.
Attallah Abulsabh, the minister of prisoners in the Haneyya government, said that Hana’a, 28, is the first freed captive to be re-arrested and sentenced.
The minister said that Hana’a is following the path of Khader Adnan who went on hunger strike for 66 days before the Israeli occupation authority finally submitted and agreed to end his administrative detention.
He said that the health condition of Hana’a was deteriorating and that the Israeli Hasharon prison administration had moved her to solitary confinement and threatened to transfer her to the ward of Jewish homicide convicts in Ramle jail if she continued in her hunger strike.
Abulsabh asked the Egyptian intelligence chief Murad Muwafi to personally intervene to put an end to Israel’s re-arrest of freed prisoners in the exchange deal and to improve the incarceration conditions of all Palestinian prisoners since the deal was brokered by the Egyptian intelligence apparatus.
The 67-year-old parents of Hana’a have announced they would go on hunger strike until they receive information on the status of their child.
Hana’a spent two and a half years in administrative custody before her release in the exchange deal.
During a violent protest in which the IOF used live bullets, tear gas and rubber bullets, twenty five year old Talat Ramia, was shot in the shoulder and died later from his injuries. According to medics, five other protesters were injured.
An Israeli army spokesman said the incident was under investigation. The official said initial indications showed that one of the protesters had “fired fireworks at IDF soldiers from several meters away, putting the soldiers’ lives in danger”. The soldiers “responded by firing, injuring the Palestinian in his shoulder.”
Funeral procession for Talat Ramia, 25, who died on Friday after he was shot by Israeli forces at a protest near Qalandiya checkpoint. (Maan Images)
The demonstration was held in response to rumours of a possible raid by Israeli settlers of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem today. Consequently there were violent clashes at Al-Aqsa mosque, in which four Palestinian people were arrested and more than fifteen sustained injuries from riot police.
This followed a week of unrest in Jerusalem, as the extreme Israeli group Likud threatened to break into the mosque last Sunday.
Al Aqsa Mosque is considered to be one of the most sensitive places in the Middle East and is considered the third holiest place in Islam, while it is considered by the Jewish as Temple Mount and is revered as one of the most sacred sights.
Witnesses stated that the police fired tear gas, forcing people to run inside for cover.
“We were praying when they started shooting tear gas towards us,” 58-year-old Umm Mohammad told AFP by telephone from inside the Dome of the Rock.
“At first, they were shooting at the Al-Aqsa mosque but we hid in the Dome of the Rock, and now they have started firing tear gas and sound bombs towards the gates,” she said.
Clashes continue this evening in Al-Rum, a town near Jerusalem city. Medical sources state that there are many injuries as the IOF are currently shooting live rounds.
The “Youth Against Settlements” movement marked the 18 year anniversary of the Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre with a peaceful march, as part of Apartheid Week in Palestine, demonstrating through the streets of Hebron, violently broken up by Israeli forces.
Eight thousand of Palestinians from across the West Bank, joined by solidarity activists, participated in the demonstration in Hebron on Friday, February 24th, calling for the reopening of Shuhada Street. Occupation forces arrested Badia Dweik (39), member of Youth Against Settlements, along with Fadi Quran (24) and four other Palestinians. Issa Amro, Coordinator of Youth Against Settlements and dozens of others suffered asphyxiation due to overwhelming amounts of tear gas.
Medical sources from Mohammad Ali Hospital reported that the number of injured protesters that arrived to the hospital and were treated was over 80 people. The number of people injured continues to rise as a result of tear gas weapons being used in the region.
The events Friday were only a few of many activities taking place as part of a wider campaign, the 3rd Annual Global Day of Action to Open Shuhada Street. This year’s campaign was called “Shideh Helek Ya Balad” (a call for Hebronites to join the struggle), organized by Youth Against Settlements.
Unarmed demonstrators chanted for the reopening of Shuahda Street, ending the closure on the city of Hebron, and the removal of settlers from the city. Other chants expressed solidarity with Sheikh Khader Adnan who had recently ended his hunger strike, as well as calling for Palestinian national unity.
Media spokesperson for the 3rd Annual Global Day of Action to Open Shuhada Street, Tamer Al-Atrash said,
Despite our peaceful, unarmed demonstration, Occupation forces met it with violence as yet another way of supporting the illegal settlement enterprise. None of this will stop us from continuing our struggle to reopen Shuhada Street, the closure of which results in severe human rights violations. Worldwide solidarity actions took place today. thousand of Palestinians from various regions of the West Bank, and representing the full political spectrum, met in Hebron in coordination with national and Islamic entities in the city.
The Annual Global Day of Action to Open Shuhada Street falls on the 18th commemoration of the Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre. The campaign was launched in 2010 in more than 25 locations across the world, growing the following year to more than 31 locations. This year over 35 solidarity actions will take place globally.
Shuhada Street is in the heart of Hebron and is the central thoroughfare connecting all corners of the city. It has been closed since the Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre in 1994.
Youth Against Settlements is a politically unaffiliated national youth movement working to end the Occupation and to dismantle settlements through nonviolent community actions.
On the occasion of the 3rd Annual Global Day of Action to Open Shuhada Street, the Mayor of Naples, Italy, sent the following message of solidarity:
In a normal country, Shuhada Street would be a swarm of workshops, sellers of zatar, barbers and candy artisans. In a country under occupation, Shuhada Street, is instead subjected to an endless curfew, closed shops, racist drawings and writings painted on walls and doors. Citizens from international movements, as well as Palestinians and Israelis, who are acting in a nonviolent manner to reopen Shuhada Street, represent one of the best aspects of solidarity and humanity. I send them all my support and hope that Hebron will soon return to be a town of inclusion. In fact, the Arabic name of the city, Al-Khalil, means “friend” and those who live there cannot, and never will be an enemy.
Shuhada Street in Hebron today may become the scene of a confrontation, as hundreds of left-wing Jews and Arabs are expected to march there to protest the closure of Shuhada Street from Palestinians. Police and army will attempt to keep order.
At 12:00 today (Friday) hundreds of leftists, anarchists and Palestinians are expected to arrive in Hebron, walk along Shuhada Street, which is closed to Palestinians. Security forces are preparing for the demonstration and are trying to prevent it from sliding into serious violence and keeping the peace.
Right-wing activist Baruch Marzel, commented on protesters Issa Amr and others, stating: “I expect the security forces to deal with terrorist Issa Amro and all partners who attack IDF soldiers… Issa Amro has been rampamtly inciting for years against the IDF soldiers, and no one does anything to him. ”
